Debate Worksheet: Part 1 Test

Debate lesson 8: Part 1 test: arguments · Set 457 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Point, proof, link — and no tricks): Find the topic of the question: argument parts, fact or opinion, evidence, sides, rebuttal, fallacy or linking word. Use that lesson’s tip — claim, evidence, reasoning; can it be checked?; relevant, specific, reliable; agree or disagree?; answer the point; name the broken step; show the link. Read every option before you choose.

1. 1.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
2. 2.Which of these is a fact — it can be checked? (a) Earth orbits the Sun. (b) Dogs beat cats as pets. (c) Mangoes taste best. (d) Homework is dull.
3. 3.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.True or false: They said “Students won’t read in a reading hour.” Reply: “You never read anything yourself.” — this attacks the person, not the point. (a) False (b) True
6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
7. 7.⚖️ Motion: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” Which side does this point support? “A break from desks helps students focus better afterwards.” (a) for the motion (b) against the motion
8. 8.⚖️ Motion: “Homework should be optional.” True or false: the point “Regular homework helps students practise what they learned.” opposes the motion. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) check where it came from (c) round it to 100 (d) hide the source
10. 10.🛡️ In a rebuttal, which comes first: say why it matters or say why it is wrong? (a) say why it matters (b) say why it is wrong
11. 11.🔗 What does “so” do in an argument? (a) shows a result (b) adds an example (c) shows the other side (d) gives a reason
12. 12.🧐 Fact or opinion? “Dogs beat cats as pets.” (a) an opinion (b) a fact
13. 13.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) “dustbins are green”
14. 14.🚩 Which fallacy is this? “Meera’s plan for the class trip is useless because she is always late.” (a) everyone does it (b) false either/or (c) attacking the person (d) slippery slope
15. 15.True or false: They said “Sports periods waste study time.” Reply: “A short break for play helps students focus better afterwards.” — this attacks the person, not the point. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🛡️ What kind of reply is this? They said “A garden costs too much.” Reply: “Gardens look very pretty in spring.” (a) attacks the person (b) dodges the point (c) a fair rebuttal
18. 18.🧐 A fact is something that… (a) is a guess (b) is always funny (c) can be checked (d) someone feels
19. 19.🧐 How can you check a fact? (a) ask a stranger (b) guess (c) use a reliable source (d) trust a rumour
20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
21. 21.🛡️ What kind of reply is this? They said “A garden costs too much.” Reply: “Seeds and pots cost under ₹500, and parents have offered tools.” (a) a fair rebuttal (b) attacks the person (c) dodges the point
22. 22.True or false: They said “A garden costs too much.” Reply: “You can’t even grow a cactus, so who cares?” — this is a fair rebuttal, as it answers the point. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Motion: “Every student should learn to cook at school.” True or false: the point “Cooking teaches measuring, timing and safety.” supports the motion. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🚩 Which fallacy says an idea is right because many people do it? (a) slippery slope (b) everyone does it (c) false either/or (d) attacking the person
26. 26.True or false: “Tara can’t be right about homework — she supports the other cricket team.” is attacking the person. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: They said “Sports periods waste study time.” Reply: “Sport is played all over the world.” — this attacks the person, not the point. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) a guess
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) Rainy days are fun. (b) Science is exciting. (c) Ice is frozen water. (d) Pink is a lovely colour.
30. 30.⚖️ Motion: “Summer holidays should be shorter.” Which side does this point support? “Long breaks make students forget what they learned.” (a) for the motion (b) against the motion
31. 31.True or false: “If we allow one extra break, soon there will be no lessons at all.” is attacking the person. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) Chess is boring. (b) Mangoes taste best. (c) Pink is a lovely colour. (d) Bees make honey.
34. 34.True or false: “Dogs beat cats as pets.” is a fact — it can be checked. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🛡️ What kind of reply is this? They said “Students won’t read in a reading hour.” Reply: “In our trial week, 32 of 40 students finished a book.” (a) dodges the point (b) attacks the person (c) a fair rebuttal
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) Kolkata is in India. (b) Dogs beat cats as pets. (c) Frogs lay eggs. (d) Ice is frozen water.
37. 37.⚖️ Motion: “Summer holidays should be shorter.” True or false: the point “Long holidays give time to visit grandparents and relatives.” opposes the motion. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
39. 39.Which of these is an opinion — it is what someone thinks? (a) A year has 12 months. (b) Ice is frozen water. (c) Pink is a lovely colour. (d) Frogs lay eggs.
40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning

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